SME Loans for UK Businesses | £5,000 – £500,000+ Over 3–72 Months
Funding for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises shouldn't mean weeks of waiting on a high-street bank that doesn't understand your sector. SME Finance Hub matches UK Limited Companies and LLPs with our specialist SME lender panel — from challenger banks to fintechs and revenue-based providers — across unsecured, secured, asset, invoice and tax finance. Loans from £5,000 to £500,000+, repayment terms from 3 to 72 months, decisions in 24 hours, and absolutely no upfront broker fees to apply. Enquiring won't affect your credit score, and there's no obligation to take the offers we secure.
One application. No hard credit search to enquire. Expert brokers comparing options from our specialist SME lender panel.
The short answer
An SME loan is business funding sized and underwritten for small and medium-sized UK businesses, typically by specialist lenders rather than high-street banks. SME Finance Hub is an FCA-authorised broker: one application is reviewed and proposed to the most suitable funders for your needs, at no cost to you.
- Loan amounts
- £5,000 to £500,000
- Terms
- 3 to 72 months
- Eligibility
- Trading 6+ months with £10,000+ monthly turnover; limited companies and sole traders
- Timescale
- Most decisions within 24-48 hours, funds commonly within 2-5 working days
- Security
- Unsecured options available; a director personal guarantee is usually required
- Our fee
- None. We are paid commission by the lender, disclosed before you commit
Last reviewed: 18 August 2026 by the SME Finance Hub broking team. Editorial policy
What is an SME Loan?
An SME loan is finance built specifically for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises — the engine room of the UK economy.
"SME" covers the vast majority of UK trading businesses — broadly, companies with fewer than 250 employees. Official definitions use different turnover thresholds depending on the context (company law, tax, and ONS statistics all differ slightly), so the employee test is the most consistent guide. From a 6-month-old ecommerce brand turning over £15k a month, to an established construction firm with 80 staff and £20m revenue — the challenge is that high-street banks treat all of these businesses through the same rigid affordability lens, and routinely decline good SMEs that don't fit a generic template. You can check the current company-size thresholds in GOV.UK's company-size thresholds.
What matters more than any definition is whether your business qualifies for funding: through SME Finance Hub that means 6+ months trading, £10,000+ monthly turnover, and a facility of £5,000 or more.
An SME loan from a specialist lender is different. SME-focused lenders underwrite to the realities of how small businesses actually trade — seasonal cash flow, director track record, sector-specific risk, and live bank-feed data — not just two years of filed accounts. That's why the right SME lender will say yes where a bank says no, and will price the loan fairly for the actual risk involved.
At SME Finance Hub we don't lend. We match. One application, and our specialists compare your profile across our specialist SME lender panel to find a competitively priced, appropriately structured facility for your business. There's no hard credit search at the enquiry stage, so your credit score is unaffected. We're paid commission by the lender, and we'll always show you the cost of each option before you commit.
Eligibility Requirements
These are indicative requirements based on what most of our lenders look for. If your business doesn't fully match them, you can still enquire. A named broker will manually review your enquiry to see if a specialist product may be available.
Quick Eligibility Check
UK Registered Company
Your business must be either a limited company, LLP, sole trader or partnership in the UK
Monthly Turnover £10k+
Minimum monthly turnover of £10,000 to qualify for funding
6+ Months Trading
At least 6 months of established trading history required
UK Resident Director
At least one director or shareholder must be a UK resident
Don't quite match?
You can still apply online or contact us. A named broker will manually review your enquiry and let you know if a specialist product may be available.
Types of SME Loan We Arrange
Pick the structure that fits your goal — or let us recommend one after a 5-minute call.
Unsecured SME Loans
£5,000–£250,000 over 3–24 months. No property security, decisions in hours, funds typically same or next day. Director PG required.
Secured SME Loans
£25,000–£500,000+ over 12–72 months. Property or asset backed. Competitive rates from our lender panel and longer terms for bigger projects.
Short-Term SME Loans
Tactical 3–18 month facilities for cash flow gaps, opportunities, or bridging. Fast, flexible, and repayable early without penalty on many lenders.
SME Growth Loans
Funding tied to a clear growth project — new staff, a new location, marketing investment, or capacity expansion. Typically 12–60 months.
SME Invoice Finance
Unlock 70–90% of unpaid B2B invoices in 24 hours. Ideal for SMEs with long payment terms from larger customers.
SME Tax & VAT Loans
Spread HMRC VAT and Corporation Tax bills over 3–12 months to protect working capital. Quick to arrange before the deadline.
How to Apply for an SME Loan
Three simple steps. From form to funds in as little as 24 hours.
Apply Online
Complete our 2-minute form. We only ask what we genuinely need to match you against the right SME lenders.
Expert Review & Match
No hard credit search at this stage, so your credit score is unaffected. We run your profile across a specialist SME lender panel.
Compare & Draw Down
Review your personalised offers with a specialist, pick the best fit, and have funds in your business account — in some cases within 24 hours of approval.
SME Lending — From the People Who Do It Every Day
Don't go straight to your bank
High-street banks decline a large share of SME applications, and each rejection can leave a mark on your credit file. A specialist SME broker compares your profile across a specialist lender panel with no hard credit search at the enquiry stage — so a "no" doesn't damage your score.
Match the term to the purpose
Use short-term SME loans (3–18 months) for cash flow and opportunities. Use longer 36–72 month facilities for assets and growth projects that will generate returns over years. Mismatched terms are the #1 reason SME loans become painful.
Watch the total cost — not the rate
Arrangement fees, early repayment charges, and broker fees can quietly double the cost of a "low-rate" loan. We disclose every cost upfront and only present facilities where the total cost of borrowing is genuinely competitive.
How much could you borrow?
Get a quick estimate of your monthly repayments
Access to our specialist lender panel including:
The UK's Trusted Broker for SME Loans
UK businesses rely on us for clear, personal broker support when they need funding.
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What our clients say about SME Finance Hub
Real reviews from businesses we've helped to secure business funding
Graeme Matthews
We'd like to thank Jodi and the team at Capital Business Loans for their support. Jodi worked hard to find a funding solution that met our needs and explained our options clearly. Liam was also very helpful throughout the process, with excellent communication and a professional approach. We'd happily recommend them to other businesses seeking commercial finance.
Able Projects
Andy and his team have been brilliant assisting us with sensible funding for our growth. Always best broker advice, best rates and honest quick results.
Hassan Khan
Liam was fantastic throughout the whole process. He needed to chase me a fair bit for information on my end, but he handled this with patience and persistence without ever being pushy, which I really appreciated. His manner was friendly and professional throughout, and he ultimately delivered the result. I would have no hesitation in using Liam again.
SME Loans — Frequently Asked Questions
Everything UK SMEs ask us about borrowing — answered honestly by our specialists.
Explore Related SME Finance
Ready to Fund Your SME?
No upfront broker fees, no obligation. Soft-search protected. Decisions in 24 hours.